Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Red-breasted Mergansers

 Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) non-breeding feathers

In many ways these birds look rather refined - thin body, nose in the air - except that every day is a "bad hair" day.  Sometimes they are a challenge to photograph as they suddenly dive underwater to swim and find fish, crustaceans and frogs.

 Taking off

For a few days in November, they settled in Oshawa Harbour.

 Flying into the harbour

In autumn we often see them in huge numbers.

Scared by a big machine and about to fly out of the harbour

Of the American merganser species, they breed farthest north and winter farthest south so they still had a long way to travel.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

44 comments:

My name is Riet said...

Now look at this. Beautiful photo's of beautiful birds. Great shots.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos! I love the shot of the merganser taking off.

Kate said...

Ah, but you caught the bird beautifully in the top photo. Its hair is styled quite nicely!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi. Lovely duck and great you got a shot of it flying too.

Anonymous said...

Love the spiky hair style! ;-)

MadSnapper said...

that is a magnificent take off, for him and your photo... cook hair do to

TexWisGirl said...

so very cool! i've seen hoodeds here but that's it.

Karen said...

Terrific shots, love the take off!

Dave said...

Great species, I am hoping to connect with six of these that flew into the Wirral (about 90mins away) a few days ago, Thursday looks like the best day for light, so wish me luck

Dave

George said...

I had to smile at the 'bad hair' photo, but the picture of the takeoff is marvelous.

Stephanie said...

Liked your comment on the bad hair day. Lovely shots!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Wow, you have those fish ducks by the numbers!

MyMaracas said...

Love the "taking off" shot - a special treat, that one!

Unknown said...

Number two is so nice and full of acting!
JetteMajken

Carver said...

These are fantastic shots. What an amazing looking bird.

Halcyon said...

Your second shot is really fantastic. I am glad I had the chance to live in Canada, even if it was only for a few years. It makes me appreciate your blog even more! :)

Pamela Gordon said...

Great photos!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I always get a chuckle out of their bad hair days.I particularly like the take-off shot.

cieldequimper said...

The take off photo is marvellous!

sunshine said...

Beautiful photos and nice birds.

mick said...

All great photos but I especially like the one with the bird taking off.

HansHB said...

Great serie, well done!

Giga said...

Drugie zdjęcie jest wspaniałe, wygląda jakby ptak biegł po wodzie. Pozdrawiam.
The second picture is great, it looks like a bird ran across the water. Yours.

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful series on the Mergansers. They are cool birds! Have a happy week!

RedPat said...

I wish I was heading south with them! It was a wee bit chilly today.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Wonderful. I love their bad hair!

Jill said...

I don't feel so alone now with my bad hair! They are delightful!

Michelle said...

Great shots of these birds. I couldn't help but think that the water must be so cold!

Gail Dixon said...

I was able to spot the merganser in Oregon earlier this year. Did not get very good shots tho. These are great!

Jenn Jilks said...

They are amazing birds, aren't they?!

William Kendall said...

I can't recall seeing them here... unless they avoid the city rivers and ponds...

Randy said...

I like that first shot.

Jack said...

That is not a bad hair day. It is just a youthful style.

Rose said...

Love the one of it taking off!

Indrani said...

Truly great shots!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

What a neat bird- I love his "do"

Kerri Farley said...

Wonderful shots! I LOVE the take off....they always look like they are walking on water when the start off.

Anonymous said...

Your first photo had me smiling - love the "hairdo" of this one:)

Small City Scenes said...

Excellent pics, EG. You have some really neat shots. I have always like any of the Mergansers. Bad hair day--LOL MB

NatureFootstep said...

how wonderful to get closeups as well as flock images of this cool bird. :)

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

I don't know about "bad hair day" ... they always remind me of the '50's when all the boys wore butch cuts. I thought they were rather cute. I do agree that they are hard to get pictures of because of their sudden disappearing act ... but you seemed to have some good captures here. Great job,EGCG.

Andrea @ From The Sol

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Great photos!

Anonymous said...

Love the shot running on water. They really do look funny with the tousled topknot.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Beautiful and I love the one of the Grebe taking off...too fun!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.